Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-01-12

needle in the embroidery her son ex-
pected her to praise had rusted into
t,
Vexed at her silence the ardent lover
resented it.
eff you have come here prejudiced
against Miss Weston, it is useless at
tempting to win your approval OF
anything she says or does"
mot prejudiced, my dear boy, but
unable to help seeing that you are
acting hastily. You met this young
lady for the first time only three weeks
ago; can it be possible that in so short
time you have learned to know her
well enough to spend your life with
herr"
But her hearers impatience caused
Mrs. Torrens to pause. Notion worlds
would she give him reason to think her
unjust, or Indifferent to his happiness;
and laying her hand gently on his arm,
she changed her tone.
"Suppose we resolve to say no more
on this subject till have made Miss
Weston's acquaintance? | shall be
very glad If am able to indOrse your
fav orable opinion Of her. Remember,
nothing would grieve me more than
not to be able to feel q mothers affec-
tion for your wife"
But Herbert was not to be appeased;
many little circumstances were con-
spring to irritate him. Linda had
refused g. visit from him on the pre-
vious evening, on the plea that she
should be busy finishing the collar and
cuffs she intended presenting to his
mother. Yet on her table, with q fan
and faded bouquet, lay g. programme
of one of the theaters. Who could
have left it there but herself?
Again! He was not as blind to the
slatternly appearance of the young
lady's sanctum as he chose to seem.
On those occasions when he had spent
raptured hours within its precincts,
the dim light of the shaded lamps had
hidden much that now panied and
surprised him.
Kicking soiled satin slipper out OF
his way, he stalked across the room
to the niche that contained a
pianette, and throwing himself into B.
low chair beside it, began turning over
the beauty's SONGS.
Why did she suffer any one else to
detain her from him SO long? Surely
the page had apprised her that he was
here, and also that he had not come
alone. He could not believe that she
would treat his mother with studied
disrespect, yet quarter of an hour
had elapsed, and still there were no
signs of Miss Weston coming to greet
her guest.
Another five minutes had elapsed,
and he was about to rise and ring for
Miss Weston's maid, when he heard
the rustle of feminine attire, the patter
of feminine feet, and Linda bounced
into the room. She was quickly fol-
lowed by q pretty country cousin,
whom she occasionally patronized to
the extent of inviting her to spend g.
few days at Kensington.
Without intending to make mischief
the page had played his mistress false.
When he put his head in at her dress
ing-room door, she was in stormy de-
bate with her milliner, who had sent
home an unbecoming hat, and de-
manded higher pricefor it than Miss
Weston felt disposed to give. Before
the boy could announce the names of
the visitors, he was angrily sent about
his business.
That O. Mrs. Somebody was waiting
to see her was all Linda compre-
hended, and she rushed to the conclu-
sion that it was g. certain widow
Thompson, whose invalid daughter
really executed the delicate lace and
embroidery it's purchaser did not
scruple to pass off as her own.
Nor was there anything in the ap-
pearance of the quietly dressed figure
that rose at her entrance to disabuse
the young lady of that notion. A
screen concealed Herbert Torrens
from view the while she addressed her
self to his mother in very different
tones to the dulcet ones he was accus-
toned to hear from those coral lips.
so this is the way your daughter
treats her best custOmer" were the
| first words leveled at the astoniehed
nearer. Although | sent word that
| must have the lace by yesterday
evening at the latest, you have disap-
pointed me! Don't attempt to make
any excuses, never listen to them.
People have no business to accept
work unless they intend to execute
the order well and punctually."
| efudpS Uu0 young person IL IL
interposed Miss Weston's cousin.
"Am | right ?" she asked, kindly ed
dressing Mrs. Torrens, els your
daughter too i'll to work? ?"
Nonsense, Flop" cried Linda, in a
more peremptory fashion than before.
Haven't said already that I never
accept excuses? If one would listen
to the tales people of this description
are always eager to tell, there would
be no dealing with them at ALL"
"Is not this rather harsh ?" asked
Mrs. Torrens, finding room to put ina
word at last, and unable to resist es-
| pousing the cause of the poor.
'Those who work for aliving are only
too anxious to earn all they cam"
"And yet you have not brought
home my lace! will not have it at
all, now. It would be no use to me.
must buy some, suppose. And it is
your own fault, entirely your own
fault. that the other is thrown on
your hands"
UOh hI1t daar linda - raroonstrat